The chief prosecutor in Oscar Pistorius murder trial said Thursday in closing arguments that the athlete repeatedly lied during testimony in a crude attempt to defend himself against a murder charge for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel cited flaws in the defence, saying the Olympians legal team floated more than one theory about what happened on the night that Pistorius shot Steenkamp through a closed toilet door in his home. Defence lawyers had argued that Pistorius fired in self-defence, fearing an intruder, Nel said, but they also raised the possibility that he was not criminally responsible and accidentally shot because he was "startled." "Its two defences that you can never reconcile," Nel said as Pistorius sat behind him in the dock, occasionally flicking through documents. The once-celebrated double-amputee athlete appeared calm, in contrast to some past occasions during which he retched and wailed in apparent distress. The prosecution has argued that Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013 after a quarrel, and argued he knew she was in the bathroom. Nel ended his closing argument by saying Pistorius was guilty of premeditated murder because he then "made up his mind" to find his gun, walk through to the bathroom and shoot. "That, my lady, is pre-planning," Nel said to the judge. Yet Nel said Pistorius should still be convicted of murder even if the court accepts he did not know it was Steenkamp in the toilet cubicle, arguing the athlete intentionally shot at and killed a person with no reason to believe his life was under threat. Barry Roux, the chief defence lawyer, listened and checked files as Nel spoke for hours. Nel was occasionally questioned by Judge Thokozile Masipa and urged to speed up elaborations on written arguments of more than 100 pages that were submitted to the court last week. Roux began his final arguments before Masipa postponed proceedings until Friday for the defence to finish. Masipa will then adjourn the trial to deliberate with two legal assistants on a verdict, with Pistorius facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the main charge of premeditated murder. Roux noted that some of the evidence at the scene, which Nel referred to, had been moved around by investigators. "Were not talking about a conspiracy," Roux said, calling it unintentional tampering. Roux also noted that Hilton Botha, the former chief investigating officer in the case, had acknowledged mistakes in police procedure but was not called by the state as a trial witness. According to Nel, Pistorius was vague in allegations that police had possibly tampered with evidence around the scene of the shooting, including fans and a bedcover strewn on the floor of his bedroom. It was also improbable that the athlete, in his version, rushed with his gun to investigate a purported sound in the bathroom without first trying to talk to Steenkamp and confirm that she was safe, the prosecutor said. "We cannot argue that he was the worst witness ever, that honour belongs to someone else," said the prosecutions written argument. "The accused was, however, demonstrably one of the worst witnesses ever encountered." The prosecution said Pistorius also "used well-calculated and rehearsed emotional outbursts to deflect the attention and avoid having to answer questions." A psychologist who examined Pistorius during a court-ordered observation period concluded that the athlete had become severely traumatized since the killing and could become an increasing suicide risk unless he continues to get mental health care. The fathers of the Olympic runner and Steenkamp, a model and television personality, were in the Pretoria courtroom for the first time since the trial began in early March. They sat at opposite ends of a long bench in the gallery. Pistorius is said to be estranged from his father, Henke, and Steenkamps father, Barry, has been ill. Pistorius older brother Carl, who has regularly attended court sessions, was in an intensive care unit in a South African hospital and was on a ventilator because of injuries suffered in a serious car crash last week, the Pistorius family said in a statement. In addition to the murder charge, Pistorius faces three separate gun-related charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Because South Africa has no trial by jury, Judge Masipa will decide if Pistorius committed murder, is guilty of a negligent killing, or if he made a tragic error and should be acquitted. The runner also would be sent to prison for years if guilty of murder without premeditation or culpable homicide. Masipa told Nel and Roux that they had only until the end of Friday to complete their final arguments in court. "Unless, of course, you want to work on a Saturday and perhaps Sunday, after church," she said, smiling. Kyle Schwarber Cubs Jersey . Kyle Shanahan was hired as offensive co-ordinator Monday after spending the previous four years in the same role with the Washington Redskins. Yu Darvish Cubs Jersey . Pironkova, who was ranked outside the top 100 despite reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, beat three top 10 players in Sydney, 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Kerber. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Bran...ow-Kids-Jersey/. A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published Friday said that FIFAs disputes panel and the Court of Arbitration for Sport correctly imposed the sanction for Nantes enticing Guinea forward Ismael Bangoura to break his contract with Dubai club Al Nasr in January 2012. Ben Zobrist Cubs Jersey . - While he appreciates suggestions from Packers fans of remedies for his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers is not necessarily going to listen to the advice. Andre Dawson Cubs Jersey . He had even more fun Friday. Coming off a sensational rookie season, Spieth opened the new year by never coming close to bogey and making a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 7-under 66. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If it was David Prices last start for the Tampa Bay Rays, it will go down as one of his best. Price struck out 11, becoming the first pitcher in 10 years to fan at least 10 in five straight starts, and the Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday. "Ive never been as good as I am right now, period. Not in 2012 (when he won the Cy Young Award), not in college, not in high school," declared Price, who is rumoured to be on the trading block from the last-place Rays. "This is the best pitcher Ive ever been. I feel in complete control on the mound at all times, "Im throwing all my pitches on both sides of the plate, and thats tough to do." Price (6-7) gave up five hits and one walk in 8 1-3 innings, leaving the game after Andrew McCutchens home run in the ninth. "(Finishing the game) is something I wanted to do for sure," Price said, "but I understand Joe (Maddon) coming out there after McCutchen hit the home run. The last batter at Vanderbilt was a home run, my last batter last year was a home run, and now you guys think Im out of here and my last hitter for the Rays was a home run again." The last pitcher with five straight starts with 10 strikeouts was Minnesotas Johan Santana from June 20-July 11, 2004. Price also set a franchise record for strikeouts in a month with 54. He went 2-3 in five June starts. "Im sure its been said before: Price was right today," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "His 107th pitch was 97 (mph), so he was on his game today. Hess been one of the best for a while.dddddddddddd" Ben Zobrists RBI triple highlighted the Rays three-run first inning off Charlie Morton. Desmond Jennings and James Loney had singles, and Kevin Kiermaier drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Morton (4-9) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings, giving up four hits. Price was backed by defensive plays that included Evan Longoria landing in the first row of the stands after making a running catch of a popup, and centre fielder Jennings running down Neil Walkers 400-foot line drive at the wall with two men on base. "The way David pitched today, youve got to try to make all the plays for him," Jennings said. "If he pitches like that, which he normally does, you just want to go out and do your job." McCutchens homer was his 12th of the season and eighth this month. The Pirates failed for the seventh time this season to finish off a series sweep of at least three games. NOTES: RHP Gerrit Cole, out since June 4 with right shoulder fatigue, will return to the Pirates rotation on Saturday against the New York Mets. ... Pittsburgh OF Sterling Marte, who left Tuesday nights game after being injured on a stolen base attempt, passed a concussion test but was kept out of the lineup. ... Rays SS Yunel Escobar was held out due to a sore shoulder, but he is expected to play Friday at Baltimore. ... The Rays will add RHP Alex Colome to the roster on Friday to start Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader, the beginning of an 11-game trip. ' ' '